Vehicle-wheel.



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JU'LAN B. HYMER, OF ZARAH, KANSAS.

VEHCLE-El' Application filed April 18, 1912.

To all whomv it' may concern lle it known that l, Junren B. HYMER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Zarah, in the county of Johnson and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VehiclefWheels, of which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates to improvements in vehicle wheels.

The object of my invention is to provide a vehicle wheel which is simple in construction, which has the resiliency of the ordinary line c-b of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a perspectivev view of one of the radially movable blocks.

Similar characters of reference designate similar parts in the different views.

l designates a hub adapted to receive an axle not shown. Secured to the opposite ends of the hub l are two side members 2, preferably of sheet steel, which are secured to the hub by tie bolts 3. Encircling the hub l is a support comprising, preferably an annular member l having a peripheral groove 5 in which is located a resilient member, comprising, preferably, an inflatable rubber tube 6 provided with a filling tube 7 which extends laterally through one of the side plates 2, and is provided at its outer end with a cap 8.

Arranged around the inflatable tube 6 are a plurality of radially movable members comprising blocks 9 the inner ends of which are adapted to bear against the tube 6, when said tube is inflated, as shown in Figs. l and 2. The bloclrs 9 are adapted, when the in; liatable tube G is deflated toi'have their inner ends bear against inwardly turned annular flanges l0, which are provided on the outer edges of'the annular member 4. lll/Then the blocks 9 are moved Ainwardly so as to bear against saidflanges, the adjacent sides of the blocks' will be in contact with each other, thus forming a support for a rim 1l located between the plates 2 and having on its inner Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented dan. lli, 19in.

serial no. 691,705. v

side an annular groove l2 in which the blocks S) are slidable radially. llhen the tube G is inflated and the blocks 9 are in the outer positions, the outer ends of the blocks will all. contact with the rim 1l.

The rim l1 is provided with transverse holes i3 through which extend spacing tubes 14, the ends of which bear against the inner sides ofthe plates 2. Extending through the spacing tubes la are tie rods 15 providedy with nuts 16, said tie rods being provided to secure the plates 2 against the ends of said tubes 14. The sides of the blocks 9 are provided with recesses 17 which are adapted to receive the spacing tubes 14: and tie rods l5.

ln the operation of my invention, the inflatable tube 6 is inflated in the usual manner through the tube 7. The tube 6 will then hold the blocks 9 out of contact with the annular member ll, so that said blocks will have a resilient support in the use of the wheel. The periphery of the rim l1 may have an annular groove in which may be located a tire, 18, preferably of rubber. The tie rods l5 with the spacing tubes 14: serve to limit the circumferential movement of the blocks 9 between the side plates 2. In case the inflatable tube 6' becomes deflated, the blocks 9 will be supported by the flanges 10. With the inflatable tube 6 located as described and shown, there will be no liability of puncture, while the 'wheel will still have the resiliency afforded by an inflatable tube. rlhe tube 6 bein'g fully incased will be protected from external injury and the weathen. and will, therefore, be possessed of great durability.

l do not limit my invention to the structure described and illustrated., as modifications, within vthe scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention..

Having thus described my invention, what l claim and desire to secure by Letters llas ent., is

l. In a vehicle wheel, two side members,` an annular support secured to and between said members, radially independently movable members arranged around said support and adapted when moved inwardly a prede termined distance to Contact with said sup port, resilient means supported by and encircling said support and normally holding the radially movable members out of contact with said support, the 'radially movablelio members being adapted'to Contact With each other when in contact with said support,l

a ring support sebured centrally to and between said side members and having a peripheral'-gr'oove andl inwardly turned pe# ripheral flanges t opposite, sides of said groove, resilient means mounted in said groove of said ri'g support, radially 1nde pendently movable members arranged round and adapted, when the resilient means is in the expanded condition to contact at their inner ends therewith, and adapt- 1 ed, when the resilient means is collapsed a predetermined amount to Contact with said flanges, and a rim 'encircling and in Contact with said blocks when the resilient means -1s expanded.

fl 3. ln a vehicle wheel, two side members, a ring support secured centrally` to and between said members and ha'ving'a peripheral groove and inwardly turned flanges at -opposite sides of said groove, a pneumatic resilient tube mounted in said roove, radially independently movable members b`etween said side members ant'y having their inner ends adapted to Contact with the pneumatic tube when the tubeis ixpanded, and adapted, when the tube is coll Lpsed to a predetermined amount to loont Lct with said flanges, and a rim mountedf ends of said radially movable members.

In testimony whereof name to this specification two subscribing witnesses.

JULIAN i in the presence of HYMER.

Witnesses: j n W. H. CHARLTON," l C. A. FULLER.

on the outer l have signed my l 

